Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0.. H. W. RELYEA.

I UAR COUPLING- No. 577,988. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

WITNESSES Y NVENTORY WW y/ 4 Arrannwf n: NORRIS PETERS ca. worouma. WASHINGTON. 11c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HENRY WORNNER RELYEA, OF NORTH ADAMS, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,988, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed February 24,1896. Serial N0- 580,458. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES HENRY WORN- NER RELYEA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of North Adams, in the county of Hillsdale and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to car-couplers and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is automatic in its operation of coupling cars and which is also simple in construction and operation and provided with means for locking the couplers in position, so as to couple the cars together; and the invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form apart, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of the end of a car, showing my improved coupler connected therewith; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the parts of the coupler in a different position; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view of the coupler-head and its connections; Fig. 4, a partial section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a back view of one of the knuckles which is connected with the coupler-head, and Fig.

I 6 'a plan view thereof.

In the practice of my invention I provide a coupler which consists of a head A, which is provided with a shank B, which is supported in a longitudinal coupling-bar b, which is provided with a central longitudinal opening 17 in which is placed a strong spiral spring 12 which is adapted to hold the coupler-head A in the projecting position, and which is adapted to yield when pressure is applied thereto.

The coupler-head A is of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the back thereof is segmental in form, and the front thereof is provided with two projecting jaws a and a and the jaw a is provided with a transverse angular cavity or recess 06, in which is pivoted a knuckle D, said knuckle and said jaw a being provided with vertical, openings, through which a pivot-pin d is passed. The knuckle D is of the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and is provided with an outwardly and inwardly directed shoulder or projection d in which is formed a transverse slot 01 and the shoulder or projection is provided with a central vertical bore (1 which is shown in full lines in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and on the side of the central portion of said knuckle, opposite the shoulder or projection 01 is formed a shank d', which is inwardly directed and which is provided at its end with an angular cavity or recess d?, at the sides of which are formed two hooks or projections 01 and (Z the outer hook or projection 01 being longer than the inner one and being directed outwardly, and that part of the knuckle D through which the pivot-pin 01 passes is provided on each side with a seg mental cavity or recess 0, into which corresponding shoulders or projections on the jaw a, or the sides thereof, between which the knuckle is placed, pass, said shoulders or projections being not shown, and formed diagonally in the head A is a slot G, at each side of which and on the lower side of the head A are formed shoulders or projections g, and between these shoulders or projections is pivoted a compound hook or claw H, provided at one side with a circular head or projection h, through which and through the shoulders or projections g is passed a bolt or rod gZwhich is provided at its inner end with an arm g the outer end of which is provided with an opening or aperture 9 and connected with the end of the car or one side thereof is a hanger K, the lower end of which is provided witha vertical slot is, through which passes a rod one end of which is connected with the arm 9 and the other end of which is provided with a hook or handle it which is adapted to be connected with an arm L, which is secured to or formed on a tubular casing L which is revolubly supported below the corner of the car.

- The side of the coupling-head A in which the diagonal slot G is formed is provided with a transverse chamber M, with which the cavity or recess-a formed in the jaw a, communicates, and the shank cl of the knuckle D projects into this chamber M.

The vertical bore through which the coupling-pin b, which unites the shoulder or proj ection a and the knuckle D, is passed is shown at O in Fig. 6 and in dotted linesin Fig. 5, and in the normal position of the parts the longer hook or claw k2 of the compound hook II projects into the notch or recess 61 between the projections or hooks d and cl of the shank d of the knuckle D, and the operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement thereof.

It will be understood that each of the cars to be coupled is provided with one of these coupling-heads, constructed as. herein described, and the normal or open position of the parts is that shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the cars are to be coupled, they are backed together in the usual manner, and the outwardly-directed shoulder or projection cl of one of the knuckles D strikes the outer surface of the shank d of the other, and the said knuckles are forced into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the longer claw or hook ]L2 of the compound hook or claw II is turned through the bottom of the slot- G, as shown in Fig. 1, and the shanks d of the knuckles D are driven backwardly and said shoulders or projections 01 inwardly, and said shoulders or projections are locked together and held in this position by the compound hook or claw H, and said hook or claw may be locked in said position by means of the rod or bar When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the compound hook or claw H is operated by means of the rod or bar 70 and the arm 9 so as to release the hook or claw and the knuckles D, when the cars may be pulled apart in the usual manner and the knuckles will assume the position shown in Fig. 2.

This device is simple in construction and operation and is well adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it is evident that changes therein and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all such changes therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described car-coupler, which consists of a coupling-head which is connected with a car as described, said coupling-head being provided on its outer side with two shoulders or projections, one of which is provided with a transverse slot or cavity, between which is pivoted a knuckle, said knuckle being provided with an outwardly and. inwardly curved shoulder or projection, and with a shank which extends inwardly, and is curved in the direction of the shoulder or pr0- jcction, and provided at its end with two hooks or projections, and said coupling-head being provided with a diagonal slot, and with a transverse chamber formed therein, into which the shank of the knuckle projects, and said head being also provided with a compound hook or claw which is pivoted in said slot, and which is adapted to operate in connection with the shank of the knuckle, and the pivot pin or bolt of said hook or claw being provided with an arm with which is connected a rod or bar, which extends backwardly and is connected with the car, and by which said hook or claw is operated, substantially as shown and described.

2. A car-coupler consisting of two separate parts, one of which is adapted to be connected with each of the cars to be coupled, each of said parts comprising a coupling-head which is suitably connected with the car, and which is provided with a yielding spring-bearing, each of said heads being also provided at their outer sides with projections or jaws in one of which is formed a transverse cavity or recess in which is pivoted a knuckle, said knuckle being provided with an outwardly and inwardly curved shoulder or projection, and with a shank which extends inwardly and is curved in the direction of said shoulder or projection, and provided at its end with two hooks or projections, and said coupling-head being also provided with a transverse chamber into which said shank projects, and with a diagonal slot in which is pivoted a compound hook or claw, which is adapted to 0perate in connection with the hooks or projections, at the end of the shank of the knuckle, and means for operating said hook or claw, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of February, 1896.

CHARLES HENRY WORNNER RELI'EA. lVitnesses:

WILLIAM H. FOOTE, AUSTIN E. EYRE. 

